Lockup galley or chase



I. w. LI' I'CHFIELD LOCK-UP GALLEY OR CHASE March 2 1926.

Filed July 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet IIHIIIIHIHH m n M March 2 1926.

I. w, LITCHFIELD LOCK-UP GALLEY 0R CHASE Filed July 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet W 1 4 III: 1. M11: 1 l I I 1 l I t|| l- 1 1| Patented Mar. Z, 1926?.

ISAAC \V. LITCI-IFIELD, NEW'TONVILLE, MASfiACI-IUSETTS, ASSIGNOB. TO LITCHFIELD LINOPLATE CO., SETTS.

OF BOSTON, MASSAfiHUSETTS, A CORPORATION MASSACHU- LQCKUI. GALL EY 0R CHASE,

Application as July 24., 1920. Serial No. 398,646.

To all 10. mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC W. Lrror-rrnenn, v

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newtonville, Massachusetts, have invent-.

ed new and useful Improvements in Lockup Galleys or Chases, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to means for securely holding a printing plate whether of integral formation or composed of elements before or after they are united into plate formation, and it has special utility when so employed in the method of making printing plates disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 1,351,954, granted Sept. 7, 1920 and entitled Improvements in printing plates and methods of making the same.

An object of this invention is to provide means for securely holding a plate or a plurality of type bars, lines of type or other printing elements which go into the makeup of a page, and which will hereinafter be referred to generally as type bars, 1n plate formation so that said type bars or plate .may be. effectively retained while reducing the thickness of the plate or bars to substan tially clectrotype thickness.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for securely holding a plate or a plurality of type bars in plate formation which will effectively retain said plate or bars while forming grooves in the back thereof although said plate or bars be reduced in thickness to substantially electrotype thickness.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for securely holding a plate or a plurality of type bars in plate formation which will effectively retain said bars. or plate while finishing the same in any suit able way. 7

Stated broadly, the invention provides means for securely holding a plate or a phi rality of type bars, lines of type, or other printing elements, in plate formation comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of reduced height, preferably substantially electrotypeheight, and provided with means for interlocking with the ends of the 'typebars or the sides of the plate; also, when said lock-up galley or chase is to be used while forming grooves in the bac rs of plates or type bars held in plate formation, the ends of said lock-up galley or chase may be provided with aligned slots through which the groove-forming tool or tools may pass.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which is shown on the accompanying drawin s, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are forpurposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to said drawings,

wherein the same reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a lock-up galley or chase embodying the present invention and shown as holding therein a plu rality of type bars in plate formation.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of said lock-up galley or chase.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one side of said l ck-up galley or chase,

Fig. t is a bottom plan view of said lockup galley or chase; 7'

5 is an elevation of the other side of said lock-up galley or chase.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the other end of said lock-up galley or chase.

In accordance with one method of carry-- ing out the invention disclosed and claimed in my patent above identified, a plurality of type bars, which may be of linotype height, are assembled in plate formation and, while held in such formation, their backs are cut off so as to reduce the 21SS8111 bled plate to substantially electrotype thickness; thereafter a plurality of grooves are formed in the backs of the reduced type bars and said type bars arethen united into an integral plate by means in said grooves. The back of the integral plate of type is then finished to, a plane surface in any suitable way. Vl hen linotype bars, which are substantially .918 of an inch in height, are reduced to substantially electrotype height, i. e. .15 of an inch, the greater part of the type bars, it will be perceived, are removed; therefore, in order that the relatively thin type bars left shall be retained firmly and securely in position during the cutting off of the backs of the type bars, and shall not be drawn out of place or buckled by the drag of the saw on the individual type bars, it becomes necessary that said type'bars be re- I plate to be formed, said tained in plate formation in a lock-up galley or chase which is so constructed as, not only to permit cutting off of the backs of the type bars, but also to grip said type bars securely and firmly. Again, when grooves are to be planed, milled, or otherwise formed in the backs of these reduced type bars, it also becomes necessary that said type bars be still retained firmly and securely in plate formation during such groove-forming operation so that the drag of the groove-forming tool or tools on the individual relatively thin type bars shall not cause them to buckle or be pulled out of place. After the type bars are united in plate formation, the integral plate may be subjected to planing and other finishing operations to reduce the same accurately to the thickness desired, and during these operations it is necessary that the plate be held firmly in position against the action of the planing and finishing tools thereon. By the present invention, I have provided a lock-up galley or chase which enables the type-barreducing, groove-forming and plate-finishing operations to be carried out witl'iou't disturbing the plate formation of the face portions of the type bars.

It is frequently necessary, also, to make up short pages, that is, pages composed of a few lines of type bars. in this case solid spacing pieces, instead of quad high slugs, may be used, to space the page to the required size and a plate is made from these pieces and type bar's, similar to the type bar plate.

' Or, it may be desired to make a plate of an integrally cast cut (engraving) or of a cut and type bars combined. In either of these cases, shoulders are suitably formed on the sides of the spacing pieces or the out similar to those on the type bars. These plates or plate formations may be firmly held by my lock-up galley or chase, to enable the cutting off, grooving or finishing operations to be effectively carried out. It is to be expressly understood that the expression cutting off, as applied herein is to be construed as genome to the operations of sawing, planing, milling, shaving, etc.

In the embodiment of this invention shown on the drawings, said lock-up galley or chase comprises a base or body portion 1, which may be of any suitable thickness, terial and configuration, but which is preferably of substantially the same shape as the base having a plain bottom surface 2 and a plain upper surface which is carefully finished so as not to injure the face of the type assembled in contact therewith. Said galley or chase is provided with sides 3 and at, one of which is preferably adjustable to conform with the length of the type bars or width of the plate.

The relatively fixed side 3 may be integral with the base but for convenience of construct1on is preferably composed of a separate strip suitably attached to said base, as by screws 3. The adjustable side t may be provided with any suitable means for adjusting and retaining the same in ad usted position. In the form shown a plurality of transverse grooves 5 are milled in the bottom surface of the base and at the bottom of each groove is a slot 6 extending through to the upper surface of the base. Threaded members, as screws 7, having shanks the diameters of which are substantially equal to the width of said slots, project through the latter into threaded engagement with said side at, the heads of said threaded members being received within the grooves 5 so as not to project beyond the bottom surface of the base 1. To prevent removal of said side a when the threaded members 7 are loosened, a strip 8 may be secured to the side of the base 1 in any suitable way, as by a plurality of screws 9, so as to close the outer ends of the grooves 5 and slots 6.

In accordance with the present invention said sides 3 and l are so constructed as to interlock with the ends of the type bars when assembled'in plate'formation on the ase member 1 or a plate inverted on said base. Any suitable form of interlocking means may be employed, a tongue and groove interlock being illustrated. While the respective parts of the tongue and groove interlock may be disposed on either the one or the other of the members to be held in interlocking relation, the groove is preferably formed in the sides of the galley or chase and the tongue is preferably formed on the ends of the type bars or the sides of the plate. In the form shown, the type bars 10 are each provided at each end with a shoulder 11, the aligned shoulders at the respective ends of the type bars, when assembled in plate formation, constituting the tongue of the interlocking means. The groove of the interlocking means is formed by or in the sides 3 and l Thus each of said sides may be provided with an overhanging shoulder 19. which, with the top face of the base member 1, will form'a groove so that said shoulders 12 on the sides will engage over and interlock with the shoulders 11 on the ends of the type bars. I prefer, however, to form the grooves wholly in the sides .so as to leave a shoulder 13 below each groove, which shoulder in thickness is substantially equal to the height of the characters on the face of the type bars. Also, I preferably make said shoulders 13 to extend inwardly slightly beyond the shoulders 12 so as to provide longitudinally extending ledges on which spacing pieces may be held, as hereafter explained.

Said sides 3 and 4- are of reduced hei ht to conform with the reduced thickness of the type bars or plate to be obtained by cut- (ill reverse? ting off the backs of the same. Preferably, said sides are .of electrotype height or slightly less than the same. T hey may, how". ever, be slightly greater than electrotype height so as to leave a thickness of type bars that may be reduced by a subsequent planing operation. The term substantially electrotype height is therefore to be understood as including heights slightly more or slightly less than exact electrotype height The ends 1 1 and of said lock-up galley or chase are also of reduced, preferably sub stantially electrotype, height. One of said ends may be integral with and is preferably held fixedly on the base 1. T he otherof said ends is preferably adjustable so as to conform with the length of and firmly grip the assembled type elements in the galley or chase. In order that a plurality of grooves may be formed in the back of the assembled plate of type bars after the same have been reduced to substantially electrotype height said ends 14 and 15 may be provided with aligned slots 16 arranged in conformity with the desired location of the said grooves. Said'ends with their aligned .slots may be formed in any suitable way. In the form shown, the fixedend is provided by milling a slot 17 in the end of the base 1 and retaining therein a plurality of blocks 18, spaced to provide the aforesaid slots. Said blocks 18 may be retained in position in any suitable way as by'the screws indicated at 19 in Fi 1. The opposite end 15 may be provided as aseparate and removable end piece in which the slots 16 may be milled or, as in the case of the end 14-, said slots may be provided by blocks retained on said end piece. Said end 15 is adjustably held in position by one or more threaded members, such as screws 20, passing throu h apertures in the end 15 and threaded into the base of the galley or chase. To facilitate the locking and unlocking of the end 15 a bar 21 is shown as pivoted on the same, as by a screw 22, and has slots 23 cut into said bar from one side thereof, said slots being desi ned to receive the shanks of the threaded members wlien in register with the end 15 and enable said bar 21 and end 15 to be adjustably clamped in position when the said threaded members are tightened.

)ne end of the base 1 is shown, Figs. 2 and 5 as provided with a pair of slots 24- to receive locking members on the carriage of the machines in which the sawing, grooveforming, planing and other finishing operations are performed, and the other end of the base 1 is shown, Fig. 6, as provided with a groove 25 for receiving a cam lock on the machine carriage, said latter groove being shown as slightly inclined so that when said cam lock is engaged therein the galley or chase will be firmly gripped against the locking members entering the grooves 2 1 and the base of the galley or chase will be securely urged and clamped against the face of said carriage.

When the type bars 10 assembled in plate formation do not complete apage the rest of the page is filled out by one or more spacing pieces 26. If these spacing pieces should drop down flush with the face of the type they would of course print a black surface. The efore, the inwardly directed ledges provided by the shoulders 13 are preferably employed to hold the spacing pieces 26 above the face of the type and said spacing pieces.

are made of such a length that they will pass between the shoulders 12 on the ends o and a into engagement with said ledges provided by the shoulders 13 with their shoulders 11 interlocked with said shoulders In operation, a plate or a plurality of type I bars, which it is to be understood may be of any suitable construction so long as they are provided at their sides or ends with means suitable for interlocking with the sides of the lock-up galley orchase, are positioned on the base 1 with their shoulders 11 at one side or end interloezed under the shoulder 12 on the fixed side of said galley or chase. The movable side 4 is then moved up into position to conform with the length of the type bars or width of the plate and to interlock its shoulder 12 over the shoulders 11 on the opposite end of the type bars or side of the plate, the movable side t being fixedly retained in its adjusted position by the tightening of the threaded members 7. The plate or series of type bars, being in engagement with the fixed end 14L may be clamped fixedly in position, with the interposition of spacing pieces 26 when necessary, by swinging the bar 21 into register with the movable end 15 and tightening the threaded members 20 to clamp said bar and end member against the spacing pieces and type'bars or the plate. The galley or chase may now be mounted in the carriage of a saw by use of the means heretofore described and the back of the type bars or plate cut off. Owing to'the firm interlock of the plate or type bars with the galley or chase they are securely held in plate formation during the sawing operation and therefore are not pulled out of position by the drag of the saw. Grooves may also be formed in the backs of the reduced type bars by a tool or tools brought into engagement in operations. It will be also noted that the galley or chase affords means for firmly holding a printing plate, during planing and other finishing operatings, formed by methods other than those heretofore outlined.

It will therefore be perceived that I have invented means whereby a plurality of type bars or a plate may be securely held while reducing their height, forming grooves in the back of the same, planing the back of the plate or plate formation, and performing other finishing operations. For the sake of clearness, l have specifically pointed out the advantages of my lock-up galley or chase for securely holding a plurality of type. bars in plate formation while reducing the height of the type bars, grooving, uniting and finishing the same into a plate, but it is to be expressly understood that my device equally lends itself to securely holdin an integrally cast plate, having shoulder suitably formed on the sides thereof, sir 'lar to those on the type bars, during reducing, planing or finishing operations. 7

While the embodiment of the invention shown on the drawings has been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressely understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, as the same is capsule of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while certain features thereof are capable of use without other features thereof. Changes may also be made in the details of construction and arrangement and sizes of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims hereto appended for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of reduced height and provided with means for interlocking with shoulders adjacent the type faces on the ends of said type bars or the sides of said plate and together with the ends of said gallery or chase positively preventing displacement of said plate the ends of said type bars or sides of said or bars in all directions.

2. i l leans for securely holding a plate, or

a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of reduced height and provided with means for interlocking with the ends of said type bars or the sides of said plate, and means for preventing movement of said plate or bars longitudinally of said galley or chase.

Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of reduced height, the sides of said plate or the ends of said bars and the sides of said galley or chase being provided with tongue-and-groove interlocking means, and means for preventing movement of said plate or bars longitudinally of said galley or chase.

41-. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality oftype bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of substantially electro-type height provided with longitudinally extending grooves for interlocking with projection-s on the sides of said plate or the ends of said: type bars, and means for preventing movement of said plate or type bars longitudinally of said galley or chase.

5 Meansfor securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of substantially electrotype height and each provided with a groove extending longitudinally of the same for interlocking with projections on the ends of the type bars or sides of the plate, the lower wall of each gioove extending inwardly of the galley or chase beyond the upper wall thereof to pro vide a longitudinally-estending shoulder.

6'. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley 0r chase having sides of reduced height and each provided with a shoulder for engagement over a shoulder on the corresponding end of each type bar or side of said plate, and means for preventing movement of said plate or type bars longitudinally of said galley or chase.

7. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of reduced height and each provided with a shoulder for engagement over a shoulder on the corresponding end of each type bar or sides of said plate, and an underlying shoulder projecting inwardly of the galley or chase beyond the first-mentioned shoulder.

8. Means ror securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of substantially electrotype height and provided with means to interlock with plate, and means whereby one of said sides may be adjusted to conform with the length of said type bars or width of said plate.

li'leans for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of substantially electrotype height and provided with means to interlock with the ends of said type bars or sides of said plate, one of'said sides being provided with threaded members movable in slots in the base of said galley or chase whereby said side may be adjusted to conform with the length of said type bars or width of said plate. I

10. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides which interlock with the ends of said type bars, or sides of said plate, and ends of reduced height provided with aligned slots to enable grooves to be formed in the backs of said type bars or plate.

11. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides which interlock with the ends of said type bars or sides of said plate, and ends of reduced hei ht, one of said ends -being adjustable, and means for clamping said adjustable end in lined position.

12. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprismg a lock-up galley or chase having sides which interlock with the ends of said type bars, or. sides of said plate, and ends of substantially electrotype height provided with aligned slots, one of said ends being adjustable, and means for clamping said adjustable end in fixed position.

13: Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides which interlock with the ends of said type bars, or sides of said plate, and ends of substantially electrotype height, one of said ends being adjustable, a lar pivoted to said adjustable end and provided with one or more slots, and one or more threaded members extending through said adjustable end into the base of said galley or chase and adapted to be received within said slots when said bar is swung into register with said adjustable end, whereby said end and bar may be clamped in position by said thread-ed member or members.

14:. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides and ends of reduced height, said sides having shoulders for interlocking with shoulders on the ends of said type bars, or sides of said plate, and said'galley or chase ends having aligned slots.

15. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate forma tion, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides and ends ofsubstantially electrotype height, the ends of said type bars, or sides of said plate, and the sides or" said galley or chase having tongue and groove interlocking means and the ends of said galley or chase having aligned slots.

16. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, while cutting off or working on the backs thereof comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of substantially electrotype height, means for interlocking said sides and the ends of each type bar, or sides of said plate, and means for preventing movement of said type bars or plate longitudinally of said galley or chase.

17. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation while cutting off or working on the backs thereof comprising a lockup galley or chase having sides of substantially electrotype height, means for interlocking said sides and the. ends of each type bar, or sides of said plate, comprising a groove in one of said members, and means for preventing movement of said type bars or plate longitudinally of said galley or chase, and a projection on the other of said members.

18. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars in plate formation, while cutting oil or working on the backs thereof comprising a lock-up galley or chase having sides of substantially electrotype height, interlocking shoulders on said sides and the ends of each type bar, or sides of said plate, and means for preventing movement of said type bars or plate longitudinally of said galley or chase.

19. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars of substantially electrotype height in plate formation, while forming grooves in the backs of said type bars, or plate, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having ends of substantially electrotype height provided with aligned slots and sides provided with means for interlocking with the ends of each type bar or sides of said plate.

20. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars of substantially electrotype height in plate formation, while forming grooves in the backs of said type bars, or plate, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having ends of substantially electrotype height provided with aligned slots and sides provided with tongue-and-groove interlocking means with the ends of each type bar or sides of said plate.

21. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of type bars of substantially electrotype height in plate formation while forming grooves in the backs of said type bars, or plate, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having ends of substantially electo type height provided with aligned slots and sides provided with shoulders for interlocking with shoulders on the ends of each type bar or sides of said plate.

22. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of lines of type elements in plate formation, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having a bottom and sides adapted to cooperate with the ends ofsaid lines or the sides of said plate to hold said elements or plate firmly in ien'gag ment "with said bottom, said sides of said galley or chase and the ends of said lines or sides of said plate being provided adjacent the faces of the type elements With interlocking shoulders which together with the ends of said galley =01 chase positively prevent displacement of said elements or plate in all direetions.

'23. Means for securely holding a plate, or a plurality of lines of type elenzzenlts in plate format-ion, comprising a lock-up galley or chase having a bottom and sides provided adjacent said bottom with overhanging sh eulders adapted to engage over shoulders adjacent the faces of the type elements and projecting laterally from the sides of the assembled elements or plate" said cooperating shoulders forming an interlock which with the ends of said galley or chase positively prevents displacement of said elements or plate in all directions. In testimony whereof I have specification.

ISAAC lV. LITGHFIELD.

signed this 

